JACK JACK

Filed under: baby caamano,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha,top o' the hill — admin at 11:59 am on Thursday, July 25, 2019

Jack has a Christmas birthday – and winter in PA is usually NOT the best time to take outdoor portraits!!

So – we had a half-birthday shoot!!

Jack will be FIVE this Christmas! FIVE!? Gah. How is that possible.

Last year he was diagnosed with Autism. He had a pretty severe speech delay.

And now. NOW. I can’t get together with my sister and him without crying.

He talks SO MUCH. He understands SO MUCH. He asks SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Did you know that finding a therapy that works for YOU and YOUR child is THE KEY!!

Go with your gut – and sometimes you have to go with the gut of the people that love you and want the best for you.

Sometimes a diagnosis is TERRIFYING. The thought of a diagnosis is crippling.

And sometimes a diagnosis is THE KEY.

Jack is kind. Jack is empathetic. Jack is FULL of questions. And a while ago – he wasn’t.

And my sister cried because he wasn’t talking. And now we cry because he doesn’t STOP talking!!

This is where his mom & dad said YES – FOREVER!!

MY FAVORITE!!

NOPE – THAT one is my favorite!!

And one of us together – because I don’t think I have ANY of us together!!

I think he looks more like me than my sister – if he looks anything like anyone except his dad – because he’s his clone!

JACKIE BOY – we love you so much and are SO PROUD of all you’ve done and all that you WILL do!

JACK JACK

Filed under: baby caamano,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha — admin at 12:18 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018

My sister came home for a long weekend in October.

We had an eventful Saturday – making glass pumpkins – going out for pizza AND Iron Kettle Pumpkin Farm!

Her hubbie wasn’t able to get away from work – but we needed some new pictures of Jack!

He’s gonna be FOUR after Christmas – CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! FOUR! I seriously feel like I was JUST driving to NJ to be there for his birth.

I love that one!

His one front tooth is longer than the other – significantly longer – it’s ADORABLE! I LOVE IT!!

That Fitzy guy & Jack – they are kindred spirits!

Jack recently started speech therapy – he has quite the speech delay. Fitzy was in physical therapy when he was about 16 months old because he wasn’t walking yet. Jack walked late too.

My sister. She is calmer – gentler – more patient – much more chill than I am. Less selfish. She doesn’t have an agenda she “needs” to complete everyday.

She has literally soaked up every single moment of motherhood that she could.

Anyway – back to the speech therapy. She also made an appointment to get him into a child development specialist – with a RIDICULOUSLY long waiting period. MONTHS & MONTHS.

She had that appointment on Halloween – or right near it. She called me – and said – she said that Jack is on the Autism spectrum.

I listened – which is hard for me – something I am constantly working on. I asked how she was. Good. He’s a great kid. He’s gentle. Calm. Chill.

We had talked about it a while ago – years ago. The way he handles things – that’s the best way I can describe it. He’s so specific.

We’ve watched Jack while Samm & Xavier went out to dinner – once. He knows his trains. He is pleasant and sweet. Gentle and loving. The only time there’s any issue – when he has to share something or when something doesn’t go the way he wants – which is pretty normal – and not just for toddlers!

Fitzy is VERY specific about times. Being late – unacceptable. He lined his toys up. Sorted them. OVER & OVER & OVER again. Jack lines all the things up – always.

Enoch gets VERY obsessed about sorting his basketball cards. He was VERY obsessed with Red – she’s a bully – she pushes the other cows around.

Jack is considered very high functioning on the spectrum. I told my sister – I can’t say I’m sorry to you. Because there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s not broken. He doesn’t need to be fixed.

Some things are going to be harder – YES. BUT SO MANY THINGS ARE HARDER ALREADY. Life is pain. But there is so much beauty from pain.

He IS amazing. He WILL be amazing. And his mom and dad ARE AMAZING!! And remember – AMAZING means so many different things. We have to change OUR thinking.

WE ARE FAMILY

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,my town,samantha — admin at 11:39 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The boys LOVE G & Pa – and they REALLY love it when Jack can be there too!

That last week in JULY was heavenly for them!

That picture on top – PURE JOY!

LOOK AT THAT BIG GUY! These babies – they need to SLOW IT DOWN!

G was NOT home when she said she would be – so we had to call her. And I love that my sister has our mom in her phone as MY MOM!

BABY KITTENS!!

DO YOU SEE HIS FACE!! He wants a kitty or a puppy SO VERY BAD!

I mean – LOOK AT THAT FACE!

SO SAD!

Enoch was WORKING OUT HARD!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

My dad and my brother – they have a special bond too! And if you look at my dad’s pictures from high school – you’d think it was my brother!

I’m so thankful for the time our kids get to spend together – even if it’s only once or twice a year!

That shot MIGHT be my favorite shot of the five of them together! You can’t even see Fitzy’s face – but you can still tell that he’s smiling!

That smile on little *J*’s face – AHH! And *R* – she LOVES her cousins! You can just SEE IT!

G – she’s the ABSOLUTE BEST!

I got my brother and sister-in-law a big print of this photo for Christmas!

*J* needed his THREE year pictures – THREE!!

My sister – she’s been trying to get that Enoch-guy to love her for his WHOLE LIFE! Sometimes he does!

G and her little *J* – AND BLACK & WHITE! THE BEST!

*J* LOVES calling the cows in! AND he loves his G!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,my family,portraits,samantha,top o' the hill — admin at 11:58 am on Thursday, February 8, 2018

My sister AND my brother came home for Thanksgiving!

We weren’t ALL able to be together at the same time – Samm’s husband got home when mine had to leave – but I still wanted to take ALL the pictures!

*R* is 3 months older than Fitzy – her birthday was yesterday actually – they have a special bond!

*J* did NOT like the camera on someone else – so he snuck RIGHT IN!

*J* – he’s such a silly guy!

*R* and Sammy have a special bond too!

GOSH – I JUST LOVE BLACK & WHITE!

That sweet face!! Again – FOCUS IS OVERRATED!

As usual – I took WAY TOO MANY PHOTOS – well – is there such a thing?! No. NEVER!

SO – stay tuned for the rest of our Thanksgiving fun!

IRON KETTLE PUMPKIN FARM

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,my town,samantha — admin at 1:02 pm on Thursday, December 28, 2017

We went to the Iron Kettle Pumpkin Farm while my sister was home!

When we were little – we made the trip every year with our cousins!

Those guys – they’re ADORABLE!!

You might notice that Fitzy didn’t come with us – he would rather stay home with his G!

We were told that the donuts did NOT have milk in them – but later – we found out they did – super sad.

Thankfully – Enoch’s allergy is not life-threatening – gives him a tummy-ache for a few days – BUT – lesson learned – ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check the label and sometimes even then – it might not be right!

Just in case you think that every outing is sunshine and rainbows – it’s really not! This one is a runner!

THAT CRAZY FACE!

That little guy and that GIANT cookie!

Sometimes – I get really sad that our guys can’t grow up together – BUT – these moments – they make me happy!

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha — admin at 11:12 am on Friday, May 26, 2017

My sister and her family came home in March!

We … well – SHE – held an open house for her LuLaRoe! It was SO FUN!

We have an AMAZING group of people that love us and support us! I am SO grateful for the people in our lives!

I didn’t bring my camera to the event – but I did capture the boys. The cousins. The family!

LOOK AT THAT ADORABLE FACE!

THAT SWEET FACE!

You can’t keep that farmer guy out of the barn – not even in the FRIGID wind!!

Enoch knows that GG will give him ALL the candies! So we made a trip next-door!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that shot!

You might not know this – but my sister and I love cheesy – super ugly clothes for our kids. My mom picks out the silliest things at yard sales – THANKFULLY we can share them – because Jack gets them after Enoch – but I’m not sure how long that will happen since these boys are getting SO BIG AND TALL AND STRONG!

Fitzy and Jack have a super special bond! Fitzy actually tells people that he’s my first-born and Samm’s first-born – he doesn’t know how it works – it just does. And he knows that he loves her just as much as he loves me. He makes wishes that he could live with Sammy forever – and he’s done it ever since he was a little guy!

And this guy – CAN ALMOST REACH THE LOCK! WHAT ON EARTH!

OH MY HEART!

Xavier cooks with Jack on his shoulders! That’s some talent!

I’m so happy that I was able to capture these photos for my sister!

OH MY WORD! THOSE CHEEKS!

OH MY HEART! THOSE PHOTOS!

These little boys will be big before we know it! I never imagined that my sister and I would raise our kids in different states – in my imagination – we were ALWAYS together! But – thanks to FACETIME – we spend time together daily!

JACK JACK

Filed under: baby caamano,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha — admin at 11:14 am on Tuesday, May 2, 2017

My nephew Jack turned TWO over Christmas! TWO!

We didn’t get outside too much – and he’s a MOVER and a SHAKER but we got a few cute shots!

JACK JACK! You are SO LOVED!

LULAROE WITH SAMANTHA CAAMANO

Filed under: family,just because,lularoe,samantha — admin at 11:12 am on Wednesday, April 12, 2017

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for” – John A. Shedd

When my sister was on-the-fence with the decision to invest in LuLaRoe and become a consultant – I texted her that quote!

It’s scary. It’s exciting. And scary. And overwhelming. And. Scary. Did I mention that?

She did it. She said yes. Make sue to check out her inventory!!

I brought my LLR and she brought her LLR and we took some photos of each other at Thanksgiving!

This is a Lindsay cardigan – which is mine – but I’m giving it to Samm because I’m more of a Sarah girl!

Her top is a Carly and she has leggings underneath!

This is a Julia dress with a Sarah cardigan!

The same Julia dress with the Lindsay cardigan!

The Julia dress can be pulled a little up for a shorter look – or left at it’s original length!

OR – if you need a scarf – the Lindsay!

Samm has on a Lindsay again – a Maxi skirt – and a Classic Tee!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this print – This top is called an Irma! This one is a large – but I can still wear it comfortably!

Samm turned her Maxi skirt into a dress with Lindsay over top!

Leggings and an Irma top with a Sarah cardigan!

If you like a shorter skirt – DONE!

I’m wearing Samm’s Classic Tee and her Cassie skirt – which are larger than the size I would buy for myself – but still look amazing!

Nicole dress with Lindsay as a scarf again! And then as a cardigan!

Nicole with a Mimi! I gave Samm a hard time about the Mimi – I did not love it in pictures – but like most things LuLaRoe – they are much different in person! SO WARM AND COZY!

This top is NOT LLR – but the skirt is an Azure!

With a Sarah cardigan!

Black leggings – Sarah cardigan and the Azure as a top!

This dress is Ana – with a Lindsay cardigan! My favorite LLR items change – but this is one of them!

Red Irma top underneath the Lindsay with black leggings!

This is my Maxi skirt as a skirt and then as a dress! The black top is not a LLR piece.

This dress – another one of my FAVORITE pieces! Amelia! With Lindsay!

POCKETS! NEED I SAY MORE!

Black leggings and a Sarah cardigan! Again – the black top is NOT a LLR item!

I LOVE THIS LOOK ON SAMM!

I borrowed the Sarah from Samm for this outfit with my Maxi! The black top is NOT LLR.

Samm wants to specialize in Mommy & Me leggings eventually! The tops are NOT LLR!

Samm’s top is an Irma!

Lindsay cardigan – Carly top and leggings!

Lindsay as a scarf!

Classic Tee – Cassie skirt and Sarah cardigan!

And Cassie as a top!

Leggings with Julia dress and a Carly on top!

JULIA dress! I love that one too!

Add a Classic over the Julia for an extra POP!

The green cardigan is NOT LLR – but gives you an idea of what you can do with a Sarah!

Samm LOVES her Mimi!

Make sure to join her group on FACEBOOK – the link is at the top of this blog post!

Samm – I AM SO PROUD OF YOU FOR STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!

It’s scary and overwhelming and exciting and ALL THE THINGS!!!

Tune in for her ONLINE SALE TONIGHT!!!

 

*C* FAMILY

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,baby caamano,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha — admin at 12:44 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Growing up – my sister and I shared a room – and I’m so thankful that we did! Don’t get me wrong – we had our times (when I say we – I mostly mean me) when we didn’t get along. Or when I went after the guy she liked. Or when I just spoke for her – pretty much her whole life. Notice the pattern here …

Thankfully she loves me and is one of my best friends!

And our little guys love each other SO much! I can’t imagine life without her!

I’m so thankful that I can give them wonderful memories!

LOOK AT HIS LITTLE FACE!

OH MY WORD! That black & white shot – THE BEST!

And those – MY FAVORITE!

Samm & X – I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! AND JACKIE BOY TOO!

Next Page »